Welcome to My Studio

It is now 3:00 PM  and I am announcing the winner of my first Giveaway  It is Erin of Tesori Trovati.  My husband picked the name out of my hat.  Congratulations Erin!!!!!

Second BOC Open Studio Blog Event Giveaway

                  Earthenware ceramic heart pendant with drenched metal toggle bar
                                plus a $25.00 Gift Certificate to my Etsy Store

To take a chance on Winning just leave a comment on this post.

To get back to the Beads-of-Clay Blog to go to other artists' studios and see their 2nd giveaway, click here.

There it is.  The door to my studio.  I am located in a very old barn.  Old like the Maple trees that grow along this driveway.  In fact the house and barn are one of the oldest in the area, circa 1850.  About the time James Fenimore Cooper's father was up here.

Once you open the door you will go through a hallway, and down some steps into my studio.  It is kind of below ground level which is good for the clay.  Not so sure about anything else in there.  But we have a wood stove in the part that my husband inhabits and it helps dry things out.  I have an electric heater which I try not to use too much.  Here is what you will see.

My Aim 88 Digital Kiln  a wonderful workhorse.  I also have a larger kiln.

long counter on which I cut out my clay

Small table where I do the glazing

Close up of hand painted pendants drying before the gloss glaze is applied

My current favorite tool-- a food dehydrator.  Thanks to LeAnn Weih of SummersStudio for this great tip.  Useful for so many stages in the ceramic bead making process

My husband built this studio for me quite a few years ago.  I never dreamed back then that I would spend so much time in it.  But it is a wonderful place to be.  A great view out over the pasture.  Sunshine in the early morning and later in the day, afternoon sun from another set of windows.

I can close the doors and be in a world of my own.  Or leave them open and chat from time to time with my favorite person. 

Since you visited last year, if you did, we have been doing some renovating i.e. propping up of the front of the bard.  Our Amish neighbors have been helping us.  Part of our summer hay barter system.  My husband rakes and bails the hay for them and they in turn help us with getting firewood, fixing up the barn and providing my veggie garden with ample amounts of straw.  It works out well.

Jacking up the barn.  This tube goes into the ground at least three feet and is filled with cement. My husband has put in quite a few of these.

What the inside of the barn roof looks like

This is an addition that will be for me to expand into next year hopefully. It should be warmer on the feet in the winter since it will have insulation under the floor and won't be below ground level.  And what a great view.

Thank you for visiting my studio.

See you in awhile when you return to find out how to make a great apple cake.

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